VOYAGE OF THE ACOLYTE

Released during a relatively quiet year for prog music (1975), VOYAGE OF THE ACOLYTE came as a pleasant surprise to fans of the genre, and especially to Genesis fans. As the quietest and least visible member of the band, Steve Hackett was probably the last Genesis member that fans expected to release a solo album. Peter Gabriel had left the band only months prior, so all media attention at the time was on Gabriel, a fact which makes the success of the album all the more remarkable (it hit the Top 30 in the UK) !

As most Genesis fans know by now, the inspiration for doing the album was due largely to Hackett's frustration with not getting his songs on Genesis albums, combined with his own increased fluency and creativity in writing. And this fact is made indelibly clear on VOYAGE OF THE ACOLYTE. Anyone with doubts about Hackett's contribution to the Genesis Sound need only listen to this album, as it is arguably the most "Genesis-like" of all Hackett's solo albums (or any other member's, for that matter !)

Aside from an overly-long closing track ("Shadow of the Hierophant"), there is no filler to found here. Track-by-track, it flows seamlessly with great arrangements and great songs. The tracks flow so well together, it could easily have been made into an extended suite, although it is probably better as is, as the tracks each stand up so well as individual songs. Mike Rutherford and Phil Collins are present on several tracks, and vocals are handled by Collins, Hackett, and Sally Oldfield (no relation to Mike, as far as I know !).

Production-wise, it isn't the greatest, and there is a little too much reverb on the acoustic numbers. But overall, VOYAGE OF THE ACOLYTE, comes off as a surprising tour-de-force from one of the prog world's most under-rated artists !

Four-and-a-half Stars. (rounded up to 5 !)